jillfqxcraven-blog

[jillfqxcraven-blog]

UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Oct. 14

The blue-chip index looked set to gain 15-18 points, or as much as 0.3 percent, according to financial bookmakers, after it closed 38.42 points, or 0.7 percent, lower at 5,403.38 on Thursday, having struggled of late to push above technical resistance at the 5,450 level.Stock gains over the previous week have, in the main, been attributed to euro zone politicians making more positive comments about shoring up the region's battered banking sector and finding a solution to the debt crisis.Commentators remain to be convinced, saying firmer actions, not just words, were needed to sustain the recent advance."The real decision that investors have to make at this time is whether the current rally is being driven by short-covering or new buying. Since volume was thin on the rally then odds are it wasn't buying," said James Hyerczyk, analyst at Autochartist.No British data will be released on Friday, so investors' economic focus will be across the Atlantic.September U.S. retail sales will be released at 1230 GMT, with a 0.7 percent monthly rise forecast after being flat in August. U.S. September import and export prices were due at the same time.The first reading of October's Michigan consumer sentiment index is due at 1355 GMT, with a reading of 60.2 forecast, up from 59.4 in September.

[jillfqxcraven-blog]

UPDATE 1-SEC tells companies to disclose cyber attacks

By Jim Finkle and Sarah N. LynchBOSTON/WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators on Thursday issued guidelines for public companies to follow in disclosing cyber attacks following a rash of Internet crimes that caused lawmakers to call for clearer guidance on reporting the crimes.The guidance, posted late on Thursday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, lays out examples of things that companies may be required to disclose. The guidance comes after Senator John Rockefeller asked the SEC to issue it amid concern that companies were failing to mention data breaches in public filings.The SEC said in its guidance that if a cyber event occurs and leads to losses then companies should "provide certain disclosures of losses that are at least reasonably possible.""Intellectual property worth billions of dollars has been stolen by cyber criminals, and investors have been kept completely in the dark. This guidance changes everything," Rockefeller said in a statement."It will allow the market to evaluate companies in part based on their ability to keep their networks secure. We want an informed market and informed consumers, and this is how we do it," Rockefeller said in a statement.Tom Kellermann, chief technology officer of security firm AirPatrol Corp., said that the guidance tells companies to report cyber attacks and disclose steps to remediate problems."They must also incorporate cyber events into their material risk reports," said Kellermann, who has advised U.S. President Obama on cyber policy.There is a growing sense of urgency following breaches at Google Inc , Lockheed Martin Corp , the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, Citigroup , the International Monetary Fund and others.A report out earlier this month found that U.S. banks are losing ground in the battle to combat credit and debit card fraud because they balk at the expense of higher security. Globally, however, security is improving in the payment industry, according to data from The Nilson Report, a California trade publication.There is some hope of U.S. legislation to address the problem, although the House of Representatives appears more interested in tackling it piecemeal while the Senate is opting for a more far-reaching approach.Most of the concern has been focused on critical facilities like nuclear power, electricity, chemical and water treatment plants.

[jillfqxcraven-blog]

UPDATE 1-SEC tells companies to disclose cyber attacks

By Jim Finkle and Sarah N. LynchBOSTON/WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - U.S. securities regulators on Thursday issued guidelines for public companies to follow in disclosing cyber attacks following a rash of Internet crimes that caused lawmakers to call for clearer guidance on reporting the crimes.The guidance, posted late on Thursday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, lays out examples of things that companies may be required to disclose. The guidance comes after Senator John Rockefeller asked the SEC to issue it amid concern that companies were failing to mention data breaches in public filings.The SEC said in its guidance that if a cyber event occurs and leads to losses then companies should "provide certain disclosures of losses that are at least reasonably possible.""Intellectual property worth billions of dollars has been stolen by cyber criminals, and investors have been kept completely in the dark. This guidance changes everything," Rockefeller said in a statement."It will allow the market to evaluate companies in part based on their ability to keep their networks secure. We want an informed market and informed consumers, and this is how we do it," Rockefeller said in a statement.Tom Kellermann, chief technology officer of security firm AirPatrol Corp., said that the guidance tells companies to report cyber attacks and disclose steps to remediate problems."They must also incorporate cyber events into their material risk reports," said Kellermann, who has advised U.S. President Obama on cyber policy.There is a growing sense of urgency following breaches at Google Inc , Lockheed Martin Corp , the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier, Citigroup , the International Monetary Fund and others.A report out earlier this month found that U.S. banks are losing ground in the battle to combat credit and debit card fraud because they balk at the expense of higher security. Globally, however, security is improving in the payment industry, according to data from The Nilson Report, a California trade publication.There is some hope of U.S. legislation to address the problem, although the House of Representatives appears more interested in tackling it piecemeal while the Senate is opting for a more far-reaching approach.Most of the concern has been focused on critical facilities like nuclear power, electricity, chemical and water treatment plants.

[jillfqxcraven-blog]

Singapore Stocks-Up slightly at midday; Wanxiang surges

By Charmian KokSINGAPORE, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Singapore shares recovered its earlier losses and were slightly higher by midday on Wednesday, tracking gains in Hong Kong and China stocks on hopes Slovakia will pass a key vote later this week to expand the euro zone's rescue fund.At 0500 GMT, the Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.28 percent, or 7.59 points, at 2,700.64. Around 534.2 million shares worth S$489.8 million were traded, lower than the 790.2 million shares worth S$763.3 million that changed hands by the same time on Tuesday.Local traders said they expected the STI to trade in a narrow 2,680-2,720 band for the rest of the session."Markets didn't react too badly to the news from Slovakia, and investors seem to believe it will get passed later this week. But we may see some nervous trading prior to the second vote and if that stumbles again, we could see a more negative reaction," said John Hughes, head of premium client management at IG Markets.Slovakia's parliament brought down the government on Tuesday by rejecting a plan to expand the euro zone's rescue fund, but the outgoing government said it hoped to pass the measure by the end of the week with opposition support."The markets are taking a break and consolidating its recent gains, and waiting for fresh impetus on news out of the euro zone or on U.S. corporate earnings," Hughes said. He expects the STI to trade in a tight range for the rest of the week.Offshore services firm Swiber Holdings Ltd rose as much as 4 percent after the company won two orders worth a total of $102 million for offshore construction projects involving pipeline and subsea installation works in Southeast Asia.Chinese firm Wanxiang International Ltd , which makes synthetic and natural flavours and fragrances, soared 44 percent to S$0.20 after its majority shareholder made a bid to take the firm private.Wanxiang said on Tuesday its majority owner offered to buy the remaining shares it does not own at S$0.20 each.Shares of China XLX Fertiliser Ltd rose 5.7 percent to S$0.28 after DBS Vickers upgraded the stock to buy from fully valued, and raised its target price to S$0.40 from S$0.34.DBS Vickers said it expects China XLX's third quarter net profit to surprise on the upside and record a 200 percent year-on-year growth for the period, on the back of higher margins.